Jerusalem Poll Upset Brings Mayoral Defeat to Nashashibi

September 28, 1934

Jerusalem (Sep. 27)

Dr. Hussein Fakri El Khaldi, who resigned as head of the Palestine government medical service, to run for the Jerusalem Council, overwhelmingly defeated the Ragheb Bey Nashashibi, present incumbent, in the municipal elections held here yesterday. Three other Nashashibi candidates running for municipal councillorships were also defeated. The Husseini ticket, which Drfl Khaldi headed, made a clean sweep. The election was the first held in Jerusalem in the last eight years.

The election, in which violence had been feared, passed off quietly. After the results were announced today, heavily armed police wearing steel helmets patrolled the streets, alert to head off any outbreak.

Under the system in vogue here, Dr. Khaldi ran for municipal councillor in direct opposition to Ragheb Bey, and as head of the victorious slate, will be appointed mayor by the High Commissioner, Sir Arthur Grenfell Wauchope.

Election results are regarded here as a direct blow against the British administration.